IT Support of Production Efficiency Analysis in Ecological Aspect - Technology Management for Sustainable Production and Logistics - page 201

Table 1 IT tools supporting the analysis of production process efficiency

Percentage of use (%) a IT tool

82.05

Spreadsheet programs (e.g. MS Excel)

ERP Systems 52.99

Dedicated IT systems (e.g. MES, CIM) 17.09

15.38

Computing simulation programs

a Surveyed enterprises were able to choose more than one answer

Table 2 Difficulties in using IT tools supporting the analysis of production process efficiency

Percentage of answers (%) a Identified difficulties

Spreadsheet programs are not sufficient for conducted analyses 44.07

Performing computing simulations is complicated for employees 44.07

32.20

ERP system does not guarantee receipt of all necessary data

Dedicated IT systems do not include functionality of efficiency
analysis

28.81

a Surveyed enterprises were able to choose more than one answer

In case of medium and large companies the possibility to use ERP system in
realisation of complex production processes is dependent on the detail of func-
tional range of used IT tool, whereas in regard to small and medium production
companies, it needs to be noticed that usually a low level of complexity of exe-
cuted process makes it possible to use the functionality of ERP system during an
analysis of a production process efficiency.
Interdependent dimensions of operations management (e.g. the time, place,
quantity, quality, structure), management resources (e.g. employees, machines
and equipment, capital, organizational resources and know-how) and management
areas (e.g. purchasing, production, distribution, sales, finance, marketing), require
that managers have to consider many scenarios of process implementation and
resources allocation, which affects the final effectiveness of the company's assets
and the employed capital. Observation of business practice, supported with scien-
tific research allows to identify the basic difficulties in using the presented IT tools
supporting an analysis of production process efficiency. A detailed identification
of basic difficulties in using IT tools supporting the analysis of production process
efficiency is presented in Table 2 .
On the basis of identified difficulties it needs to be concluded that IT tools
which are now available on the market are generally not sufficient for the specific
production processes executed in companies. Therefore, it is necessary to create
a concept of a complex IT tool which would enable generating data from ERP
systems and dedicated systems as well as using connections in a supply chain and
making simulations which facilitate making management decisions.